"Tour Tempo" by John Novosel

Re: "Tour Tempo" by John Novosel

Picked this up on Saturday and B&N, while there with my kids. Looked interesting and was very interesting to read. The author studied pros and believes that a common denominator to all effective golf swings is a tempo from start of swing to impact where the ratio of time is 3:1 (takeaway to point where starting the downswing/downswing to impact).

His belief is that most amateurs swing too slowly in the sense that they spend too much time getting to the top because they are immersed in swing thoughts, or for other reasons, then go for the ball, resulting the usual errors, casting being primarily among the culprits.

What drew me to the book is the focus on eliminating casting, which is a problem I have and was just starting to work on when I got my new clubs reshafted late last season, and I find a lot of similar threads on that in this book, Clampett's book and, to some extent, in the Shoemaker book.

It's almost as if he believes that if you take care of the tempo issue, the rest of the swing will take care of itself. Pretty interesting book, with some "Abs Diet" reminiscent before and after sections comparing the swings of various amateur guinea pigs.

Small book, easy reading, good photos and a CD with audio and video I have yet to check out. The video has some swings analysis and some predetermined tones for incorporating the suggested tempo (same ratio but different elapsed times for different swings) into practice.

Anxious to try it out, and had never heard of it before.

Re: "Tour Tempo" by John Novosel

I achieved some pretty impressive and quick results from Tour Tempo. The book itself is repetitive and very basic, and not a very interesting read, but the idea behind it is phenomenal.

I went for a driver fitting last week and bought a new Titleist 909D3. My swing speed was clocked at an average of 93 mph, with a range of 90-96. Later that week, I bought this book, Tour Tempo. I was curious of my current tempo, so I videoed my swing and counted frames as the book describes. Before practicing the Tour Tempo method, my swing was 39/11, which takes 1.67 seconds from the start of the swing to impact.

After two days, total about 60 minutes swinging in my living room with the included Audio CD, I videoed my swing again and was at 27/9, which takes 1.2 seconds, and achieves the 3/1 ratio that the book encourages. I went to hit balls at the range today. Very inconsistent contact at first, as I was getting used to the quicker tempo, but once I settled in, I was hitting the ball noticeably farther with every club. The range I go to has a trackman, so I tested my swing speed with both the 5 iron and driver, and was shocked with the results. 90 mph with the 5-iron and 104 with the driver. According to the book, this equates to an extra 18 yards of carry with the 5 iron, and 25 yds with the driver.

The book is only 17 bucks on amazon, and I recommend it, if only for the included Audio CD tracks. The book itself is largely uninteresting and repetitive, but I am very encouraged with the results thus far, and excited to see how well my new swing transfers to the course!

Re: "Tour Tempo" by John Novosel

I bought a 1 GB MP3 player just to listen to it while practicing. 24/7, Swing, Set, Through...

Re: "Tour Tempo" by John Novosel

I took some lessons from Ben Jackson (the teaching pro to whom the book is dedicated). He has remarkable success at teaching extra distance. He is over 70 and still can rip it 300 yards when he catches it.

It was such a pleasure finally finding someone that doesn't tell me to slow my swing or swing easy. For many, the idea of swinging fast and hard may sound like heresy but for me it was a relief.

Re: "Tour Tempo" by John Novosel

Haven't read the book but the premise that most amateurs swing too slow really surprised me. Really.

Re: "Tour Tempo" by John Novosel

So if I understand the basic idea, it's that your tempo should help your swing speed be at it's fastest at the point of contact? I think so many of us weekend hackers leak power all over the place and we do not maximize our power when our swing is at it fastest point too early or slow.

Anyway, I just bought the book (no cd included) on ebay for less than $4. If figure it's worth a look. I know for my size and strength I am not hitting the ball as far as I could. It certainly would be nice to have some shorter, more managable approach shots.

Re: "Tour Tempo" by John Novosel

I just bought the book and CD off of amazon this morning so I'll update with hopefully positive results in a week or two.

Re: "Tour Tempo" by John Novosel

Read this book a couple years ago and listened to the CD as well. I found it to be helpful. And I think it's true that most of us ams swing too slow, especially on the downswing. I spent my first 2 years of my golfing career chunking balls because I had "swing slow" stuck in my head. I decel'd on every ball and hit every shot fat.

Swing smooth, not slow, is a better thought (for me anyway). There's nothing slow about a pros swing, their tempo is just worlds better than ours.

The idea of the "swing, set, through" thought process is helpful, keeps your swing accelerating through the ball. You could also simply do 1,2,3 at a certain pace if you like.

I really should revisit this book/CD.

If anyone would like this book/cd I would be happy to ship to you, providing you of course send it back.

Re: "Tour Tempo" by John Novosel

Wow, My 5 iron has already improved on average by like 10 yards. I went to the range after i was outside practicing my tempo for bout 45 minutes. Got about 20 Balls. First few were a little thin, after that they were way better than before. I'll be able to play nine Friday so I'll be able to compare scores and such.

Re: "Tour Tempo" by John Novosel

I didn't keep score because I got new wedges and putter so I was still adjusting to my short game, but I hit 5 fairways, and 3 GIR on nine. That's like a 1.5 improvement in three days.

Book is an extremely read, took me about 45 minutes. I really like the Matrix of club head speed and yardage. If that is accurate I would guess my swing speed has improved roughly 8 miles per hour. That's in reading the book, and practicing the Y/L drill for about 10 minutes each a day, and practicing my tempo for 30 minutes each day. For three days.

Re: "Tour Tempo" by John Novosel

I have the book without the CD. Can someone tell me whether or not the CD that comes with the book is critical for practicing tempo? Seems like it would be after going through the book.

Also, has anyone tried the micro player? Any thoughts about that?

Thanks.

Re: "Tour Tempo" by John Novosel

Yes, the CD is critical, or how else will you know if you're tempo's good.

Re: "Tour Tempo" by John Novosel

I figured. Rats. I did, however, order the micro player. Hopefully that provides the feedback I need for tempo training.

Re: "Tour Tempo" by John Novosel

I've had this book since it came out in 2004. It REALLY changed my game for the better. I was certainly not swinging fast enough. Particularl in the take away, where we all read that it should be slow and smooth. Well, my take away had got to a controlled 'Snails Pace', (which I now see as great if you are a beginner or high handicapper). This book put paid to that.
The other thing I loved is that the Timing Tones included on the CD gave me something to focus on. I never get caught up in multiple swing thoughts anymore, when I'm at the address position. I always have the 'Tones' playing in my head instead.
Thoroughly recommend this book.

Re: "Tour Tempo" by John Novosel

Just ordered my copy off Amazon prime. Looks like everyone who sells it used doesn't include the CD. Probably keeping it for themselves.

I'll be ripping this to my MP3 player.

Re: "Tour Tempo" by John Novosel

How long did it take to ingrain (sp??) the tempo tunes in your head and into your swing? How fast did you see improvements? What were some set backs, if any?

I just read the book tonight and practicedwith the CD into my backyard net. Interesting, work in progress ....

More thoughts from those who worked through this method ... please?

Re: "Tour Tempo" by John Novosel

I already had a close to 27/9 swing, so it took me almost an hour till I was close enough, but it was a month until I could wake up and get it close to perfect on the first swing.